My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 173 The wedding finally begins

"I've been away in March and April, and finally came back before the emperor's wedding."

Riding on his horse, Sun Chengzong looked at the Chaoyang Gate with red lanterns hung up and felt quite emotional.

After sighing, Sun Chengzong turned to Qin Bangping, Ran Yuelong and other generals beside him.

"Everyone, please go to my house and rest for a while. After your Majesty's wedding, I will bring you all to see your Majesty."

"Thank you sir."

After hearing Sun Chengzong's words, Qin Bangping and others quickly thanked him.

"Sun Zhisheng?"

Just when Sun Chengzong was comforting the generals, a call drew Sun Chengzong's attention away.

"Yuan Liqing!"

Seeing the person behind the carriage window, Sun Chengzong was surprised and got off the carriage.

"Why are you here."

"Your Majesty is getting married. I am coming to Beijing to congratulate you."

After getting off the carriage, Yuan Keli looked at Sun Chengzong, whose face was full of weather.

"Looking at you like this, you are in a hurry to get to the capital."

"We have to be anxious. The situation in Liaodong is urgent and time does not wait for us."

Hearing this, Sun Chengzong sighed.

"Previously, Xiong Jinglue destroyed the two white flags of Jiannu and made outstanding achievements. However, Jiannu is still watching outside the border wall. Xiong Jinglue cannot leave Liaodong for a long time, so I led all the generals to Beijing to face the saint."

Signing to his son Sun Qian to lead the generals first, Sun Chengzong and Yuan Keli walked behind and started chatting.

"I heard that Brother Yuan has now moved to Tianjin to assist Yang Sichang in transporting border supplies to Tianjin. I would also like to thank Magistrate Yuan for his help."

"I'm so ashamed of myself."

Hearing this, Yuan Keli shook his head and said.

"Your Majesty is planning ahead and deciding the internal and external issues. How can I dare to take credit?"

Following the carriage, Sun Chengzong led the horse and suddenly asked in a low voice.

"I heard that His Highness the Fifth Prince is studying under you in Tianjin. I wonder if this is the case?"

"Ah."

Hearing this, Yuan Keli nodded silently.

He had seen the dispute over the country from beginning to end and always stood on Zhu Changluo's side, but he also reconciled the conflict between Zhu Changluo and Wanli.

Zhu Changluo was able to survive the court attack case safely, and Sun Chengzong was indispensable.

Seeing this, Sun Chengzong's expression changed and he asked slightly anxiously.

"What do you think, Your Majesty?"

"I will rely on him as the crown prince for the time being, just in case something unexpected happens."

After giving the other party a deep look, Yuan Keli lowered his head and said.

"His Majesty's determination to reform is beyond my imagination."

"..."

Hearing this, Sun Chengzong was silent for a moment, then spoke again to test.

"If in the future, Your Majesty has an heir."

"Will not."

Shaking his head, Yuan Keli said firmly.

"His Majesty once said that His Highness, the Fifth Prince, has low self-esteem and is impatient. He asked me to calm him down."

As he spoke, Yuan Keli turned his head slightly and glanced at the carriageway carrying Zhu Youjian and Wang Chengen.

"When His Majesty the Fifth Highness came to my door, I observed for a long time and found that it was indeed what His Majesty said. Therefore, I feel that he does not have the appearance of a prince."

"After that, I sent another memorial, asking you to appoint your queen as soon as possible. Although Your Majesty did not send my memorial, you will have to appoint the Duke's niece as your queen the next month."

"I see."

Hearing this, Sun Chengzong nodded. With his political wisdom, he immediately understood the meaning.

This is to prevent a Ming Dynasty version of Zhezong's early death.

"Are you coming to Beijing this time?"

After getting the answer he wanted, Sun Chengzong did not continue to talk about Zhu Youjian, but changed the topic to Yuan Keli's purpose.

"I have been in Tianjin for more than three months. I took advantage of His Majesty's wedding to come to Beijing and talk to Your Majesty about the situation in Tianjin Mansion."

"The other one is money."

Saying that, Yuan Keli shook his head helplessly.

"After Tianjin Wei was changed to Tianjin Prefecture, money was needed everywhere."

"..."

The two of them talked and walked into the lighting workshop.

Just as Sun Chengzong was about to invite Yuan Keli to his home, he saw Sun Ruyou, the Minister of Rites, came over with a group of officials.

"Sun Shangshu, what is this?"

Seeing Sun Ruyou coming in a hurry, Sun Chengzong asked curiously.

"Governor Sun, you are finally back. There is something here that needs Governor Sun to take care of."

In the first year of the Apocalypse, on the tenth day of the third month, it is appropriate to get married and travel, but avoid disturbing the earth.

"Your Majesty, it's time to get up!"

Liu Shimin, who got up early, carefully came to the emperor's bed.

Being woken up from his dream, Zhu Youxiao opened his eyes in a daze.

The emperor just sat up. Liu Shimin waved his hand, and the maids who had been prepared filed in to wait on the emperor to change his clothes.

Spitting out the mouthwash, Zhu Youxiao rolled his eyes and let the maids help him put on the crown uniform.

"Can you not apply powder?"

Looking at the palace maid holding a powder box, rouge and other items in front of him, Zhu Youxiao looked at Liu Shimin with a serious face.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid this won't work."

Hearing this, Liu Shimin shook his head decisively. There are rules for the emperor's wedding dress.

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Zhu Youxiao sat back on the chair and looked at the palace maid.

"bring it on!"

By the time I finished applying my makeup, it was already bright outside.

Accompanied by Liu Shimin and officials from the Ministry of Rites, Zhu Youxiao first went to the Ancestral Temple to worship his ancestors, and then went to the Wenhua Hall.

Accompanied by ritual music, Zhu Youxiao walked slowly on the red carpet and entered the Wenhua Hall step by step.

Just as I sat down on the dragon chair, there were already the imperial edict to appoint the queen, the queen's treasures and other items prepared in advance on the dragon desk.

"Ascension hall!"

Seeing that the emperor had already sat down, Liu Shimin said loudly to the outside.

This set has been rehearsed for a long time, first the eunuchs of His Majesty Dan, and then the royal guards outside.

With three blows of the whip and the sound of drums, officials wearing brand-new court uniforms entered the palace in a row.

"Long live, long live, my emperor."

After entering the main hall, after three bows and nine kowtows, Zhu Youxiao raised his left hand, looked down and said.

"Everyone is flat!"

After everyone stood up, Zhu Youxiao looked at Liu Shimin and said.

"An edict!"

"The servants lead the order."

Hearing this, Liu Shimin bowed to the emperor, picked up the edict placed on the table, and began to read it.

"The emperor is entrusted with the destiny of heaven, and the edict says: The heaven and earth are harmonious, the yin and yang are harmonious, and all things are unified. Here is the Xu family's daughter, who is gentle and obedient, dignified in manners, smart and virtuous. In accordance with the emperor's etiquette, the Xu family is appointed as the queen, and the mother is To honor the world, to reform the people, and to determine the foundation of the country early, I admire this~"

As Liu Shimin finished reading the imperial edict, Sun Ruyou, the Minister of Rites, came out.

"Your Majesty, please appoint a messenger to welcome the bride!"

Rolling his eyes, Zhu Youxiao said loudly.

"I ordered Sun Chengzong, the governor of Liaodong, to be the envoy to welcome the bride."

Yes, it's not the cabinet scholar, nor the ministers of the various ministries, but Sun Chengzong who has just returned to the capital to report on his work.

This person was selected by the Ministry of Rites.

As for the reason, Governor Sun has many sons.

The seven sons are all grown up, and they can all be combined into the little King Kong of the gourd.

After hearing the emperor's order, Sun Chengzong, who was standing behind the ministers, couldn't help but blush. He really didn't expect to receive such a task as soon as he returned to Beijing.

Not daring to neglect, Sun Chengzong hurriedly left work and knelt down respectfully in the tunnel.

"My lord, Sun Chengzong has accepted the order!"

As Sun Chengzong left, the emperor also moved to Kunning Palace to wait.

When we arrived outside the Wenhua Gate, the Queen's ceremony was ready.

When the wedding envoy Sun Chengzong came out of Chengtianmen, he took the wedding banquet, the wedding sedan, the wedding sedan, and the bride price with him.

It was Ding Xiu and Lu Wenzhao who beat gongs and drums again to open the way.

Then came the honor guard and drum band in the front, the welcoming messenger in the middle, followed by the welcoming officials, eunuchs, and royal guards.

After leaving Chengtian Gate, the large group of people went straight to the Duke Dingguo's mansion after receiving a large number of gifts prepared by the Ministry of Rites.

When an emperor marries a wife, the scale cannot be small, and the whole party stretches for several miles.

The people watching the ceremony on the street gathered around the procession and watched the emperor's wedding procession.

At the same time, at Duke Dingguo's residence, Xu Waner had just taken her last bath.

Xu Waner hated bathing four times a day and felt like a layer of her skin was being rubbed off.

After bathing, apply face powder on your face, draw eyeliner, eyeshadow, eyebrows, and red lips.

Then, use rouge to create two "cheek blushes" on both cheeks.

After applying the makeup, the female official from the palace was responsible for combing Xu Waner's hair and braiding hairpins.

Feudal society was a hierarchical society, and the queen's hair style was regulated. She could not have it the same as that of noble concubines, concubines, or even palace maids.

At the same time, the hair accessories should also consider the convenience of wearing a phoenix crown and suit Xu Waner's face shape.

Ever since her acceptance, Xu Waner has been trying out various hairstyles, and it wasn't until last night that she finally decided on her hairstyle.

Looking at herself in the mirror, and then at Xu Huier next to her who was wearing a palace maid's costume, Xu Waner began to feel a little nervous.

The little drum in my heart is beating more and more urgently.

Although she had a chance encounter with the emperor, it was just a fleeting glimpse that left few ripples in her heart.

Like every young girl who is about to get married, Xu Waner is also in a nervous mood.

When Sun Chengzong led the wedding team to the gate of Duke Dingguo's mansion, Xu Xigao was already waiting with the people of the mansion.

As Ding Xiu and Lu Wenzhao stood on both sides of the main entrance of Duke Dingguo's Mansion, a group of royal guards lined up, revealing Sun Chengzong in the middle holding a talisman and an imperial edict.

Without any more greetings, Sun Chengzong read the imperial edict again, and the royal guards carried the queen's ceremonial carriage and dragon pavilion into the front yard.

Then the eunuch carried it into the embroidery building in the backyard and parked it in the auspicious position designated by the officials of the Ministry of Rites.

Knowing from the female official that Li Yu had arrived, Xu Waner took a deep breath and prepared to start her career in the harem.

When Xu Waner was dressed in a queen's dress, a crown of nine dragons and four phoenixes, a red hijab, and a coat made of gold-woven dragon and phoenix cloth, surrounded by palace maids, she knelt down to receive the gold book and treasure.

Then go back upstairs and wait for the auspicious time.

Of course, we can't wait too long for this auspicious time, as the palace is still waiting.

As soon as the auspicious time came, the bride Xu Waner was promoted to her father and drove off.

Ding Xiu and Lu Wenzhao opened the way again, and the large group set off.

After leaving Dashi Yifang, enter Daming Gate, go up Yujie, and pass through Chengtian Gate from the main gate.

After officially entering the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate, with the sound of bells and drums on the city wall, the eunuchs and palace maids lined up and knelt down to greet the queen.

Cross the Jinshui Bridge, pass through the Huangji Gate, and walk all the way through the front court.

In front of the Qianqing Gate, Xu Waner sat on a ceremonial chair and was led, carried, or accompanied by the waiting wife, court ladies, palace maids, etc., to Kunning Palace.

While the business outside was in full swing, Zhu Youxiao was waiting in Kunning Palace with endless excitement.

If you are bored, you can only play Hache, and you can't even read the memorial.

Just when Zhu Youxiao was bored and counting the threads on his sleeves from scratch, Liu Shimin finally came in from the outside.

Quickly come to the emperor. Liu Shimin congratulates you on your arrival.

"Your Majesty, the auspicious time has come, it's time to go out."

"Ah."

Reaching out and grabbing Liu Shimin's outstretched arm, Zhu Youxiao stood up from the chair.

My legs are almost numb.

The real wedding didn't begin until the emperor came out of Kunning Palace.

After leaving Kunning Palace, Zhu Youxiao performed the ceremony of demotion and walked down the steps of Kunning Palace.

At the same time, Xu Waner walked out of the court under the leadership of the female officer.

Reaching out to take Xu Waner's hand, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but squeeze it a little more.

so soft.

Holding Xu Waner's hand, she walked into Kunning Palace step by step.

After the worship ceremony, it is time to lift the hijab and inspect the goods.

Taking a jade stick from Liu Shimin's hand, he slowly lifted the hijab on Xu Waner's head.

"Well, it's beautiful."

Looking at Xu Waner who looked like a porcelain doll, Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction.

"My concubine sees Your Majesty."

Finally seeing the emperor, Xu Waner bowed.

"Exemption."

Looking at the beautiful girl, Zhu Youxiao just said calmly.

Then, under the leadership of Liu Shimin, the two came to the prepared case and performed the ceremony.

The word "庺" means "ladle".

In ancient times, a gourd was cut into two gourds, and the bride and groom each held one and toasted each other, which means "two become one".

As an emperor, the ritual utensils used are of course different. The sapphire cup and the two jade cups are about an inch high, with dragons and phoenixes engraved on the outside.

Xu Waner poured the wine first, Zhu Youxiao took a sip, and then handed it to Xu Waner, who drank it all in one gulp.

Afterwards, Zhu Youxiao poured the wine and handed it to Xu Waner. After taking a sip, he gave it back to Zhu Youxiao, who drank it all in one gulp.

After drinking the Hexin wine, it is time to receive congratulations.

He and Xu Waner sat down on the chairs that had been prepared and waited for people to come forward to congratulate them.

Congratulations, naturally there is order.

First, Zhu Youjian, the fifth son of the late emperor, who just returned to the palace yesterday, took the lead, bringing the emperor's sixth daughter Zhu Huiyan (10 years old), the emperor's seventh daughter Zhu Huijing (9 years old), and the emperor's eighth daughter Zhu Huiti (9 years old) to come forward to congratulate him. .

They are all at a sensible age, and the eunuch has also rehearsed in private, and nothing happened at this time.

"Pingshen, get up quickly, don't get cold."

After receiving the courtesy from the three people, Zhu Youxiao waved the three of them to get up and go to the back to sit down.

After the people inside the palace are finished, they will be the people outside the palace.

Han Xu, the assistant minister of the cabinet, took the lead, followed by the six ministers, which represented the civil servants.

Zhu Chunchen, the Duke of Chengguo, is the first, followed by the British Duke Zhang Weixian, which represents the military generals.

"I would like to congratulate my emperor on long live the emperor."

"I congratulate the Queen on her thousand years of life."

Listening to the uniform chant, Xu Waner sat cautiously next to the emperor and did not move.

As for Zhu Youxiao beside her, looking at the people representing the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty, a hint of haze flashed in Zhu Youxiao's eyes.

When will the civil and military sides be balanced, or in other words, when there will be a minister in the military generals who is not honored by the emperors of the past dynasties, will he be happy.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Youxiao raised his hand and said.

"Flat body."

After the emperor and empress accepted the congratulations, it was time for the banquet.

The emperor hosted a banquet for hundreds of officials and nobles in Qianqing Palace.

The queen held a banquet in Kunning Palace to receive the royal decree.

It took until the beginning of Haishi to finally send these civil and military officials out of the Forbidden City.

Dragging his exhausted body, Zhu Youxiao got off the chariot outside Kunning Palace. With one hand on the Yongle sword at his waist, Zhu Youxiao walked slowly into the hall.

Under the illumination of red candles, the emperor's faint voice reached the ears of Xu Waner, who had been waiting on the Arhat's bed.

"As soon as you enter the palace gate, it's as deep as the sea."

"Are you afraid of it?"

　My mind was broken and I was writing slowly. In order to make the year-end report look good, I was given two months of delayed performance pay, which made it difficult for me to survive this month. , this group of people in the company really don’t care about human affairs.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)